About the Author:Patti Larsen is a middle grade, young adult and adult author with a passion for the paranormal. Her YA thriller series, The Hunted, is available now. The first four books of The Hayle Coven series, Family Magic, Witch Hunt, Demon Child and The Wild are out now. Her YA paranormal novel, Best Friends Forever, and steampunk series, Blood and Gold, are due early in 2012. She is a full time writer and a part time teacher of her Get Your Book Done program. Patti lives on the East Coast of Canada with her very patient husband and four massive cats.

1.1.How did you come up with the idea for the book?

I had just finished reading Harry Potter on the insistence of my niece and understood for the first time the genre I was supposed to be writing. Young Adult called to me like no other subject matter. The night I finished reading the last book of JK Rowling’s series, I went to bed so excited. I knew at last this was the niche I’d been looking for. I woke up around 2:30 the next morning with a girl’s voice in my head. She was very insistent, made me get up and go to my office so I could write down what she had to say. She told me her mother was a witch and her father was a demon, but she just wanted to be ordinary. That was almost three years ago and I haven’t looked back.<

2.2.Why witches?

I knew I didn’t want to dive into vampires and werewolves, though those two types of paranormals do show up in the Hayle Coven series. But it was honestly the main character Sydlynn herself who informed me of the subject matter.<

3.3.What made you bring in the other super-naturals?

I know you’ll think I’m a crackpot, but when I write it’s like I’m channelling the character I’m writing for. She fills me in on who is in her life (such as her vampire Uncle Frank and his undead girlfriend Sunny, her demon cat Sassafras, etc) and what impact they have on her. I think having other supernaturals in her stories also helps normalize and balance out the two sides of her--the part of Syd that wants to be like everyone else, to have friends and fit in weighed against the magical realm and the fact even those with extraordinary powers are still only human. Okay, humanish.>

4.4. How long did it take to write?

This book poured out of me in about two weeks. It was like Syd had been waiting for years for me to figure it all out. I’d been a hardcore fantasy and sci fi writer up until I was introduced to YA, and as much as I loved writing for adults, it didn’t speak to me the way teen stories did (and do). She was so insistent I tell her tale, I could think of nothing else.>

5.5. Is the sequel already done?

Yes, and in fact the next three books of the series are already published. I’d outlined the first quadrilogy of her story back when I wrote Family Magic, so when I decided to publish it, I dove into writing the next three books in the anticipation of releasing them. I had an offer from a publisher to take the entire series on, but I finally said no. Syd and I need to take this journey together on our terms.>

6.6. How many books do you plan?

That’s a very funny question at the moment, though a bit of a private joke. When I first conceived of the series, there were five books and Syd seemed content with that. But when I began to write the third book, she started grumbling about how she had more to tell. So the series has, as of now, grown into sixteen novels, four quadrilogies. For some reason her story arcs cover four books at a time with trailers into the next set. She’s suggested she may never stop and as long as the novels are still flowing and my readers still reading, I’ll keep writing.<7.Do you plan on keeping the series solely about Syd or branching out into the other coven members because I’m curious about a couple of characters back stories?

There is always the possibility. I’ve just finished writing the first drafts of a series about her great-great-grandmother, Auburdeen, a steampunk trilogy based in London. I’ve also toyed with the idea of telling her mother’s story, her uncle’s, a rewind back to when Syd’s grandmother Ethpeal was driven mad by an attacking coven. But so far it hasn’t solidified into anything and I’m not about to force it.

That being said, I also have a series I’m working on about a different coven, a male lead this time, who encounters Syd along the way. It will be interesting to see how he perceives her, since the Hayle Coven novels are told from Syd’s first person point of view.<8.Do you plan on sending Syd or another character to the demon plane for a plot? (maybe Syd could go there to learn about herself more or get sucked through the gate and have to master her powers to get back)

You’re psychic ;) That’s already planned for the next four books (#7 in fact) as well as much later in the series. She does have family on Demonicon after all, and numerous opportunities for disaster. <9.Who is your favourite character from the book?

I’m so biased. I love Syd. She’s my girl, you know? But if I had to choose outside of her, it would be Ethpeal, her crazy grandmother. She makes me laugh and chokes me up all at once. Whether she’s stuffing herself with chocolate and tequila or lobbing fireballs at the neighbours, she’s a force to be reckoned with.<10.I get the reason for all the teen angst in the book, it’s quite accurate, is it written from experience?

Syd and her mom have this volatile relationship, a back and forth of “I love her” “I hate her” that she can’t seem to control. Part of the reason I adore Syd is she’s willing to admit when she’s being angsty, when she’s wallowing. Mind you, it doesn’t keep her from doing it! And yes, naturally, I was a melancholy and emotional teen, which is likely why I connect with her so much.<11. Who would you like to see portray Syd in a movie?

Ellen Page would be my first choice. I know she’s much older than Syd is in the first book, but she has that attitude and innocence that Syd has. She can be snarky but vulnerable at the same time.<12. Brad or Quaid?

Teen me is all about football hero Brad, because of what he represents. Fitting in, being popular. Standard handsomeness and the shot of normal. But, omnomnom, couldn’t you just eat Quaid UP? The authentic me, the part of me that is Syd, knows the darkly delicious Quaid is the only choice.<13. Any teasers you want to share for the sequel?

I’d love to! Book two is called Witch Hunt. Syd has finally made friends in her new town, the bullying has stopped and her family is safe. She even ends up football captain Brad’s girlfriend. But more trouble is brewing when a party goes horribly wrong, releasing an ancient evil on Wilding Springs, while Syd is being recruited/pursued by a group calling themselves the Chosen of the Light.

Giveaway.

Patti has kindly offered three of our followers to win eBook copies of Family Magic.

Want to win?

All you need to do is enter by filling out the Rafflecopter form.

Extra entries are not required but will increase your chances of winning. January 27th, 2012.

Good Luck!

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